Review your employment contract: If you discussed the details of your severance package upon joining the company, you’ll know exactly what to expect. Don’t let your employer tell you that you don’t qualify for what’s outlined in your employment contract.

Negotiate: Even if you agreed to a severance package in your employment contract, you may still be able to negotiate a better deal. And of course, if a severance package wasn’t included in your contract, you’ll want to discuss this with your HR department as soon as possible.

Focus on insurance information: Are you able to keep your health insurance through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1995? Do you have the opportunity to continue to pay for any life insurance on your own? There’s more to a severance package than the money you receive. Benefits are every bit as important.

Talk about unused benefits: Some companies provide pay for unused personal days, sick days and vacation time. If you’ve collected a lot of days, this can equate to thousands more dollars along with everything else you’re entitled to.

If you receive bad news that you’re being terminated, review your employment contract and turn your attention to the steps you can take to protect your legal rights in California.

You hope your employer does whatever they can to ease your stress while you transition out of the company, but this doesn’t always happen.

If your employer is fighting you every step of the way, learn more about your legal rights and how to protect them. You don’t want to miss out on any compensation or benefits that you deserve.

Visit our website for additional information on the steps to take after termination.